Sanitary cover for spoons and like articles



Jan. 6, 1925. 1,521,656

' E. L. SIMPSON SANITARY COVER FOE SPOONS AND LIKE ARTICLES- Filed Jn. 1923 gme'ntoz Patented Jan. 6, i925.

EARL L. SIMPSON,

atest SANITARY COVER FOR SPOONS AND LIKE ARTICLES.

Application filed January 9, 1923. Serial No. 611,573.

To ((ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that EARL L. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Covers for Spoons and like Articles, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sanitary covers for spoons and the like articles such as knives, forks, etc.

The principal object of this invention is to avoid the continuous use of the same article by more than one person, and also to assure the persons using these implements a clean and new cover each time the articles are used, thereby avoiding the spreading of contagious diseases and other unsanitary conditions.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a cover which may be easily fitted to a spoon or like article so as to assure sanitary conditions while the article is being used and which can be quickly destroyed after the use thereof.

Heretofore spoons and like articles have been used time and time again without being thoroughly cleansed, which necessarily lays open an' unsanitary path, due to the fact that such articles carry germs, and to avoid this unsanitary condition I provide a sanitary cover which can be easily fitted to the article and used by a single person and then immediately destroyed.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a cover stamped from a blank of material, easily fitted to the article and clipped thereon against accidental displacement during the use thereof.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a sanitary cover which may be easily and quickly manufactured at a comparatively small cost, and which shall be durable and sanitary in the use thereof.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the drawing, and claimed.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the cover as made in accordance with this invention.

gu e .2 i a t p p an Vie sho g th cover as appliedto a spoon and ready for use,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional vew taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, I t

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the cover in partly opened position, ready to recelve a spoon,

Figure 5 is a modified form .of 1nyinventioli showing the cover applied to a knife, an Figure 6 is a modified form showing the cover applied to a fork.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a blank of material such as paper or the like, stamped t0 the configuration of a spoon or like article, including connected sections, 6 and 7, connected together as at 8. The sections 6 and 7 will be hereinafter known as a top section 6 and a bottom section 7, and each is equipped at its free end with an extension or handle engaging member 9, the purpose of which is to provide means whereby the cover as a whole may be easily and firmly secured in position on a spoon or like article, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The top section 6 is provided on its opposite side edges with marginal fastening flanges 10. These flanges are capable of being bent against the lower side of the spoon between the top and bottom sections 6 and 7, so as to prevent lateral displacement of the cover relative to the spoon. It is to be understood that the bottom section 7 can be placed or folded against the bottom side of a spoon and the flanges 10 secured against the underside of the section 7 if it is found desirable.

The sections 6 and 7 are concavo-convexed in cross sectlons, so as to permit the cover to snugly fit the configuration of a spoon when placed thereon.

To retain the cover 5 from displacement from the spoon, I provide a sliding clip 11, which is formed of any suitable material and is in the form of a sleeve slidably fastened about the handle of a spoon. This sleeve can be fastened about the handle of a spoon by simply applying an adhesive material between the free edges of the clip 11, as at 12, it being understood that any other fastening means may be used if found de? sirable,

OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASS IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TD EM'METT i W. ENTRIOKEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

In the use of the article, it is only necessary to slip a spoon between the opposing faces of the sections 6 and 7, move these sections into contact with the adj aeent faces of a spoon, forcing the extensions 9 of the respective sections into engagement with the opposite faces of a handle of a spoon and slip the clip 11 down over the extensions, which action automatically fastens the sections against outward movement. Prior to the fastening of the extensions 9 in contact with the spoon handle, the flanges 10 are folded snugly against the underside of a spoon, which action retains the cover against lateral displacement on the spoon.

It is to be understood, however, that these flanges 10 can be folded against the underside of the section 7, and sealed thereto, which will also assure the cover against lateral displacement.

After the spoon has been used, it is only necessary to release the clip 11, remove the cover as a whole, and destroy the same.

The modification shown in Figure 5 includes a cover 13 formed of suitable material and including sections sealed at the opposite side edges to provide an end structure into which a knife or like article is slipped, and said cover is held against displacement on such article by a fastening clip 14, which is identical in construction with the clip 11, previously described. The use of this cover 13 is practically the same as the described use of the cover 5.

In the modification shown in Figure 6,

the cover is illustrated and indicated by the numeral 15, and is constructed identically with the cover 13, other than its configuration is that to receive a fork and it is fastened to the fork by a clip 16, which is identical with the clips 11 and 1d, previously described.

The cover 15 is necessarily open at one end and is provided with extensions 17 which are retained in contact with the fork handle by the clip 16. It is to be understood that the cover 15 can be provided with individual pockets to receive the tines of the fork, if it is desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A cover of the class described including connected sections, one of said sections provided with side marginal fastening flanges, and means to fasten the two sections on an article handle for the purpose specified.

2. A cover of the class described including a blank, said blank stamped to provide connected sections concavoconvex in cross section, one of said sections provided with side marginal fastening flanges, said flanges constituting means whereby the sections may be fastened'in article-covering position, and a clip to retain the covering to said article.

In testimony whereof he hereunto affixes his signature.

EARL L. SIMPSON. 

